Police – English Lyrics

• By: Kizz Daniel, Angelique Kidjo, Johnny Drille

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a vibrant linguistic journey with Kizz Daniel, Angelique Kidjo, and Johnny Drille's "Police." This feel-good Afrobeat anthem seamlessly blends English, Yoruba, and the soulful Fon language, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the diverse sounds and expressions of African music. Its witty storytelling and catchy melodies make learning about love and language an irresistible experience.

[English]

Ooh ooh ahh ahh

Ooh ooh ahh ahh

...

On a Sunday morning

She won do something

I wan go church o

On a Monday morning

I won do something

She wan go work o

Abena abena

Abena no move this way

Abena ahhhh

Police ehh

Police ehh

Police

She don thief my heart dey go

Police

Police ehh

Police

She don thief my heart dey go

Yeboooo

Will you marry me my baby

If money no dey

Alajumoke, Alajumoke

Baba nla nonsense

Will you marry me my baby

If money no dey

Alajumoke, Alajumoke

Baba nla nonsense

Friday morning

She want attention

I wan do yoga

On a Friday night

When I want attention

She want to roll out

Abena abena

Abena no move this way

Abena ahhhh

Police ehh

Police ehh

Police

She don thief my heart dey go

Police

Police ehh

Police

She don thief my heart dey go

Will you marry me my baby

If money no dey

Alajumoke, Alajumoke

Baba nla nonsense

Will you marry me my baby

If body no dey

Alajumoke, Alajumoke

Baba nla nonsense

Egbe ɖe yě fɔn

Yě jlo nan dɔ xo

Nyɛ jlo nan gbɔjɛ lá

O zanmɛ nu mǐ nan hɛn mǐɖe ɔɔ

Yě jlo nan ɖuwe lá

Abena

Abena

Abena no move this way

Abena ahh

Police

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
police /pəˈliːs/ A2	noun - the civil force responsible for maintaining law and order adjective - relating to police
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body; the centre of emotions
marry /ˈmær.i/ A2	verb - to enter into a legal marriage relationship
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child adjective - used as a term of endearment (informal)
money /ˈmʌn.i/ A1	noun - currency used as a medium of exchange
attention /əˈten.ʃən/ A2	noun - the act of concentrating mental effort on something
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position or go to a different place noun - a change of residence; an act of moving
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
roll /roʊl/ A2	verb - to turn over and over; to move by rotating noun - a small, soft bread; a roll of paper
yoga /ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ B1	noun - a system of physical and mental practices originating in India
nonsense /ˈnɒn.səns/ B1	noun - speech or writing that has no meaning or makes no sense adjective - lacking sense or meaning
Friday /ˈfraɪ.deɪ/ A1	noun - the day of the week after Thursday
Sunday /ˈsʌn.deɪ/ A1	noun - the first day of the week
Monday /ˈmʌn.deɪ/ A1	noun - the day of the week after Sunday
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
body /ˈbɒd.i/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
work /wɜːk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort, especially for payment verb - to perform a job or task
church /tʃɜːrtʃ/ A1	noun - a building used for Christian worship

Key Grammar Structures

• I wan go church o

  ➔ want + infinitive (present desire)

  ➔ The word "wan" is the colloquial form of "want" and is followed by the infinitive "go".

• She won do something

  ➔ future simple with 'will' (won = will)

  ➔ The word "won" functions like the modal verb "will" to mark a future action.

• If money no dey

  ➔ zero conditional (if + present simple, result present simple)

  ➔ The clause starts with "If" and uses the present simple "no" (negative) to express a general condition.

• Will you marry me my baby

  ➔ yes/no question with modal 'will' for future

  ➔ The modal verb "Will" at the beginning marks the sentence as a future‑time yes/no question.

• She don thief my heart dey go

  ➔ present perfect (have/has + past participle) expressed with 'don'

  ➔ The word "don" functions like "have" to form the present perfect "don thief" = "has stolen".

• Abena no move this way

  ➔ negative present simple

  ➔ The adverb "no" before the verb creates a negative present‑simple statement.

• When I want attention

  ➔ subordinate clause of time with 'when'

  ➔ The word "When" introduces a temporal subordinate clause that sets the condition for the main action.

• She want attention

  ➔ simple present

  ➔ The verb "want" is used in its base form to describe a habitual or current desire.

• On a Friday night When I want attention She want to roll out

  ➔ compound sentence with two clauses, using present simple and infinitive

  ➔ The sentence links two present‑simple clauses – "When I want attention" and "She want to roll out" – forming a compound structure.